breast pump cleaning question

[maisiedotes]

UGH- I put purelan on my boobs and now I can't get the stickiness out of my breast pump flange thingie! Also it is on my nipple shields. I tried cleaning them with dish detergent and water, and then boiling them. Then I tried dish detergent and water and then sterilizing them (in a microwave steam sterilizer)- to no avail. Am I missing some easy cleaning method? Or should I forego the lanolin and go get new shields and pump pieces?

[Mama2 '05'06]

Hmmm... I don't know what would get it off. If you need the lanolin, use it after you pump and wipe your boobs of with a warm wash cloth before pumping. I don't use the lanolin b/c I'm allergic to it but I haven't had any trouble with the gerber breast balm that's lanolin free. Maybe soaking the pieces in really hot water with a good dish soap- one that 'cuts the grease' would help.

[Curlita]

How about rubbing alcohol? That might do the trick. I'm trying to think of other stuff that might cut through the oil... maybe vinegar. You can use that to strip lanolin off diapers, so seems like it might work on a breast pump part.

[kathteach]

I'm thinking vinegar and baking soda.

BTW Maisiedotes how is the pumping going? I hope you don't mind me butting in, but I read in your other post how you were pumping for an hour. I EP'ed for 11 months for my first son so I know a lot about pumping and what a pain it is. Anyway I just wanted to tell you it's not recommended to pump more than 20 minutes because you can cause tissue damage. Also, even though it doesn't seem like it, you will increase your supply better by smaller, more frequent pumps rather than fewer longer pumping sessions. Again I hope I am not being rude, I was just worried about you. You are doing an awful lot for your little one, she will so appreciate it.

[maisiedotes]

Originally Posted by kathteach

I'm thinking vinegar and baking soda.

BTW Maisiedotes how is the pumping going? I hope you don't mind me butting in, but I read in your other post how you were pumping for an hour. I EP'ed for 11 months for my first son so I know a lot about pumping and what a pain it is. Anyway I just wanted to tell you it's not recommended to pump more than 20 minutes because you can cause tissue damage. Also, even though it doesn't seem like it, you will increase your supply better by smaller, more frequent pumps rather than fewer longer pumping sessions. Again I hope I am not being rude, I was just worried about you. You are doing an awful lot for your little one, she will so appreciate it.

Thanks for asking- we are doing OK. Still pumping but I am getting 60cc in 20 minutes instead of an hour. My boobs appreciate this! We just saw the lac consultant and weighed Mairaed when we got there, naked, and again after eating and she was only getting a little less than 2 oz. So, the pumping shall continue. I will keep nursing her but we will have to supplement. I can get the right amount of breast milk but for some reason when it is up to the baby to get it, she just isn't. Her sucking is alternating between the fast suck-suck-suck and the slower suck-pause-suck-pause. The lac consultant said she can't quite figure out why this is happening but we have come a long way. I am starting herbs- blessed thistle and fenugreek, and a huge bowl of oatmeal daily to up the milk production. Hopefully with some positive results...

[kathteach]

Well, I just want to say again how great you're doing. I'm so impressed by your commitment. Let us know how the herbs/grains work for you. Mairaed is one lucky lil' girl to have such a dedicated mom.

[GooeyRN]

You are so dedicated! Keep up the great work! I used to put some vinegar in the pot of water I boiled my pump stuff in. (I was also an EPer) That helped get the film off of the flanges. I used olive oil to lube my nips with instead of lanolin. I put lanolin on AFTER pumping. It was less mess to clean up with the pump stuff.

I also don't recommend pumping for more than 20ish minutes. (unless you get another letdown at 22 mins like me, then NO MORE than 25 mins) You can do some wicked damage to your nips. Its much better for your supply to pump more often in shorter intervals. When I returned to work at 14.5 months pp, I had to go 5 hours between pumps, and pump for 45 minutes to empty. I wound up with mastitis, an abcess, and nipple necrosis. I don't want to see you go through that!!!!!